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[Region 1][Map 16] Kouver Islands

So, I don't have an image yet - okay, I do, but it needs editing. It's only a pencil sketch so far, barely readable after scanning. But I think I can get started with the region's background then.

These rather secluded set of islands was discovered long ago by a famous seafarer from [hans_worst's realm], Captain Kliff Kouver. His report brought the info about three mostly flat islands with simple yet rather sophisticated human people living of off fishing. Two of the islands were mostly hills and plains with some occasional shrubbery or small woods, but the third (the southernmost) was packed with heavy forest, thought to be impenetrable by the seamen and regarded as a holy place by the natives.

In the following years, trade ensued between the northern realm and the islands, bringing a variety of influences to Kouver's islands. Until the area was once used as a staging point for a fleet from the north seeking to move eastwards to Orvaelos. It has never been revealed who exactly got so ****ed at that, that a mother of storms came, scattering the fleet and making the sea unsailable in that region for years.
The trade relations ended, and eventually, the islands were surrounded by myths.

However, a year ago, a vessel that had to evade a military manouver in the eastern waters passed through the region, finding it completely sailable again. It was Kouver's grandson who initiated an expedition and gathered a team of explorer, researchers, and a task force of specialists which were to aid where they could.

The following messages are written by Shinon Leoman, member of said taskforce and a man of dubious origin. They are directed to Lord Kouver III himself.

Last edited by Baziron; 04-13-2008 at 11:57 PM.
Reason: Entered "Orvaelos" where it said [Vernadhi's Realm]

»My liege, we have reached the island group in the expected period of time. We have compared the records about the sailing conditions in these waters to the present situation and came to the conclusion that whatever made these waters impossible to traverse must have completely subsided.

We landed on the northern shore, close to a location where some old records mark a settlement. It took us some time to locate the settlement - Sir Brynwick* suspects the old map to be at fault and has rightaway begun to draw an accurate version. It will be sent to you once it is done.

We found the settlement. Our notes suggested a number of about 250 or more inhabitants, making this one of the largest communities here. However, I have to report that we found nobody. The huts are in an very bad shape, as if abandoned long ago, and regular items are still there, as if left behind.
However, no people or animals (of which the records say that some were imported) are found, and no bodies either. Skan Viro** suggested a magical scan of the island, but I objected. The island is not too big, we will find them within the next two days.

»My liege,
we have made some disturbing discoveries. Kouver's Islands were described as full of smaller vegetation, hill with a lot of grass. However, going inland (straight south, to another settlement according to the map) we found that land was actually barren in large patches. Skan is busy taking notes and solving the mystery, and I belief that he will be able to provide my liege with a highly likely version of what happened.

We also encountered a fearsome magical creature. It is peaceful, but looks very very frightening (my liege would not believe me, but I cannot get Hendrick, who's talented at drawing, to draw a sketch to show my liege - he's still too scared). Maybe it is involved in the events, but we lack clues.

Tomorrow, we will head further south, and expect to reach the southern coast in either one or two days, if the old map is not to far off. The other big settlement is supposed to be there, too, so we hope to get answers there.

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. However, I'm not so good at the photoshopping and such... which'd mean that probably somebody else would have to do it. I also think that the paper should not be too stained, I imagined that the letters were sent using these D&D magic token mail pigeons...

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. However, I'm not so good at the photoshopping and such... which'd mean that probably somebody else would have to do it. I also think that the paper should not be too stained, I imagined that the letters were sent using these D&D magic token mail pigeons...

I'm sure it can be taken care of when the time comes. I don't imagine it'd be too difficult to do.

I have to rescan the first sketch, the pencil drawing is not recognizable and somehow PS does not want to change anything with that... Cannot be helped, I guess. So here's some more stuff.

Message #3

»My liege, we have reached the southern settlement almost as planned. I am afraid that I have to inform you that all of its inhabitants are dead. They have been so for a long time, we only found skeletal remains. While some of the expedition inquired to leave things be and simply go on with the mapping, I insisted that the matter is looked into, since these islands and everything on them are my liege's assets.

I ordered Sir Brynwick and his team to continue with the mapping whilst the rest of us do research on the events that took place here. We will especially try to find out how the people died, and if that is connected to either or both of the magical beast I mentioned or the stone pillar found at the eastern edge of the settlement.
Viro just mentioned that the amount of bones found might easily exceed the number of people noted on the old map.

Brynwick estimates the conclusion of my liege's first new map within four to five days, afterwards we will continue to the island south of here.